Solar Equipment for Life Saving in Water

ABSTRACT

A solar life-saving equipment in the water, which includes a conventional life-saving floatable equipment body. A solar cell, an energy storage device, a switch and a signal generator are integrated in the floatation body. The solar cell is located on the floatation body at a location which is easy to receive sunlight radiation and the switch is situated in a location easy for the user&#39;s hand to reach. The solar cell, the energy storage device, the switch and the signal generator are electrically connected to each other to form a complete electric circuit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to equipment used for lifesaving in an aquatic environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a person falls into water accidentally, conventional lifesaving devices such as life jacket, life buoy and life raft can only function to lift the body, while failing to provide generation of emergent help signals. Thus, in dangerous case, the person in distress has to help himself. This no longer satisfies modern day aquatic lifesaving needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide convenient solar lifesaving equipment in water.

This object is achieved by the following technical scheme. The solar lifesaving equipment in water comprises a conventional floatation equipment body which includes a solar cell, a storage battery, a switch and a help-requesting signal generator. The solar cell is provided on the floatation equipment body where the solar cell is disposed in a way to facilitate receiving sunlight and the switch is provided on the floatation equipment body at a location where it can be easily operated by user's hand. The solar cell, the storage battery, the switch and the help signal generator are electrically connected with each other thereby to form a complete electric circuit.

The floatation equipment body of the invention may be a life jacket, life buoy and life raft, while the storage battery may utilize electrolytic capacitor or rechargeable battery. The solar cell is mounted on the floatation equipment body in such a manner that it is readily exposed to sunlight. The solar cell serves to charge the storage battery. The switch is located at a place which allows easy access and operation by the user. Once the switch is turned on, the storage battery device powers the help-requesting signal generator via electric wiring, thereby enabling the generator to generate help-requesting signals. The help-requesting signal generator is able to generate various signals such as voice for help, light of various colors, or specific radio wave, sound wave, light wave according to desired design requirements, thereby facilitating the notification that an emergency is progress being received by the lifesaving personnel. At normal time, the solar cell is positioned on a location where it can receive sunlight radiation with ease so as to store energy, while upon an emergent situation the switch can be turned on so that the signal generator can work regardless whether it is during the day or in the night. The solar cell can be continuously charged until the person in distress is saved.

Compared with conventional aquatic lifesaving device, the device of the present invention has the following features.

(1) The help-requesting signal generator and the floatation equipment body are integrated, and the solar cell is employed to power the help-requesting signal generator via the storage battery. Thus, there is always power for the generator to function whenever the user finds himself in distress.

(2) When an electrolytic capacitor is used in the place of a rechargeable battery, installation is one-time procedure, with high sealability and long service life and avoiding any repairment and replacement of the battery.

(3) The help-request signal generator can be designed to transmit various types of help-requesting signals, for example light wave, sound wave, radio wave or the like, depending upon desired requirement, hence facilitating lifesaving personnel's efforts in locating the people in distress and commencing life-saving operations as soon as possible.

(4) The invention may be applied to other outdoor solar lifesaving device, such as a solar bar for field workers, thereby satisfying lifesaving needs under various non aquatic situations.

The invention will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure of a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a solar life-saving jacket of the present invention. A solar cell 1, a switch 3 and a help-requesting signal generator 4 are mounted on an upper portion of the solar life-saving jacket 5, whereas an electrolytic capacitor 2 is secured inside of the life-saving jacket 5, all of which are connected with each other by electric wiring to constitute a complete circuit. The solar cell 1, the electrolytic capacitor 2, the switch 3 and the help signal generator 4 are all integrated with the life-saving jacket 5 and hermetically sealed therein. In order to deal with the situation where the user in emergency wears the life-saving jacket in a reversed front-back orientation and also to provide better receptions of sunlight while drifting in water, a solar cell 1 and a switch 3 are mounted on both front portion and rear portion of the life-saving jacket 155.

FIG. 2 shows a solar life-saving buoy having substantially the same construction and operation as those of the life-saving jacket described above.

FIG. 3 shows a solar life-saving raft which shares substantially the same construction and operation as those of the life jacket.

FIG. 4 shows a solar-energy operated signal generating bar or solar-energy operated working bar for field workers. The solar cell 1 is disposed on the surface of the bar body 5, charging the electrolytic capacitor 2 inside the bar body 5 via electric wires. One end of the bar body 5 has a light-emitting tube 6 mounted thereon, and by pushing the switch 3 into a forward position, the light-emitting tube 6 is turned on and thus serve as a flashlight to provide illumination. When the switch 3 is pushed into another position, the generator 4 will generate a signal for emergent help. Output 7 of low voltage direct current is provided at one end of a handle for recharging a small electric appliance, such as a mobile phone. The solar-energy operated signal bar can also be used in life-saving operations in water, if it is made into a sealed body with suitable materials and by suitable manufacturing processes. 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A lifesaving equipment, comprising an equipment body which further comprises a signal generator, a switch and a power source, said power source providing power to said signal generator upon turning on said switch.
 8. The lifesaving equipment of claim 7, wherein said signal generator is integrated to said equipment body.
 9. The lifesaving equipment of claim 7, wherein said power source is integrated to said equipment body.
 10. The lifesaving equipment of claim 8, wherein said equipment body is floatable in an aquatic environment.
 11. The lifesaving equipment of claim 9, wherein said power source comprises a storage battery.
 12. The lifesaving equipment of claim 11, wherein said power source further comprises a solar cell for converting sunlight into electricity and charging said storage battery.
 13. The lifesaving equipment of claim 11, wherein said storage battery is an electrolytic capacitor or rechargeable battery.
 14. The lifesaving equipment of claim 10, wherein said signal generator is for generating an emergence notification or help-requesting signal.
 15. The lifesaving equipment of claim 13, wherein said emergence notification or help-requesting signal is of a light wave, a sound wave, or a radio wave, or combination of two or more types of signals selected from the group consisting of light wave, sound wave and radio wave.
 16. The lifesaving equipment of claim 7, wherein said an equipment body is a non-floatable for use in a non-aquatic environment.
 17. The lifesaving equipment of claim 16, wherein said an equipment body is in a form of a flash lighter.
 18. The lifesaving equipment of claim 10, wherein said an equipment body is a life jacket, life buoy or life raft. 